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376513 tn?1217858105

Inner Ear Infection--dizziness/light headed

I have been reading the websight here and I am just curious to know if an Inner Ear Infection could be pain less?? As I have been dealing with light headed ness for about 2 yrs on and off I am in no pain with my ears I do have alot of wax drainage sometimes and other times the inside of my ears are just itchy...as well my legs have been "numb" feeling since the beginning of May of 2007 and I have dropped a considerable amount of weight my dr and I are on a stand still, I thought maybe it was a nerve damage but thought I would just ask the question, I was diagnosed with an Inner Ear Infection the beginning of 2006 no tests were done and just a prescription was handed to me and my drivers license was put on "stand by " for a total of 6 weeks as that is how long they said it could last I haven't really said much now as I need to be able to drive as I need to be able to commute to work I do watch what I do as I am pretty good while I sit down it is when I stand and walk around that I get off balance my blood pressure is okay and all test performed from diabetes to thyroid to all vitamins check is fine cept for my B12 which I am on supplements for is okay....Just curious if you would be able to point me in the right direction...My oldest daughter sees a ENT for her ears as she is prone to fluid on her ear drums and has Tubes in her ears so is it possible to have ear problems at this stage in life never having ear problems before?? thanks so much for your help.
6 Responses
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Avatar universal
I have been feeling very dizzy when I walk and stand up, I went to the Dr. and she said I have an inner ear infection, she prescribed ear drops, I am still very dizzy and anxious!!!
Helpful - 0
376513 tn?1217858105
Thank you both...I go see my dr at the beginning of next month we are trying everything to figure everything out and since a dr at a walk in clinic said I had an inner ear infection I was put on meds ( even though it did nothing for me ) I figured it wouldn't hurt to see a " speacialist " as we are still trying to diagnose what is wrong with me but it could be a # of different things I am just trying to get to the "root" of my sickness...Thank you for all of your help!!!
Helpful - 0
152264 tn?1280354657
If you haven't yet done so, you should see a neuro-otologist (also spelled neurotologist) to help with proper diagnosis and treatment. These are ENTs with extra training in the inner ear. You can find lists at www.vestibular.org and at the AMerican Neurotology Society Web site.

You could very well have had an inner ear infection. Most people do get back to normal within a few weeks or months, as the brain "compensates" for the damage to the inner-ear balance nerve by finding "ways around" the damage.

For some people, compensation doesn't occur and they remain dizzy. That's when you should seek out a SPECIALIST, and if appropriate they can refer you to a VESTIBULAR THERAPIST, which is a physical therapist (PT) with special training in helping people with balance and dizziness problems. Vestibular therapy is often quite effective, even in patients who have been dizzy for a long time, because the vestibular therapist will look for your SPECIFIC weaknesses in your vestibular system and give you tailored exercises to do.

Sometimes people with ongoing dizziness/lightheadedness after a vestibular injury (such as an inner ear infection) are helped by low doses of medications such as Xanax or Klonopin, but these medications only mask the symptoms and impair long-term compensation. You really need to see an inner ear specialist. Ask your family doctor to refer you to one, or find one yourself if the family doctor seems unwilling or not knowledgeable about this. Most regular ENTs also know relatively little about this. You need an EAR specialist.

Yes, inner ear infections are painless.They just make you really dizzy, and sometimes with hearing loss but not always, as W/a/J said. Look up "vestibular neuritis". A GREAT Web site for causes of dizziness is Dr. Tim Hain's www.dizziness-and-balance.com (click on patient education).

Note, however, that other things besides the inner ear can cause lightheadedness and dizziness/balance problems. Presumably these other things have been ruled out.

Best of luck,
Nancy T.
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Avatar universal
In your case I do not know if you have an inner ear infection.

The deal is, it must be treated within 2 weeks of onset, if not the damage is usually permanent. The treatment is usually valtrex & a steriod.

Google Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss

see what you find.
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376513 tn?1217858105
Thank you for the information....is there medicine that could be took to cure this?? As I would really love to be "balanced" again lol I see my family dr at the end of the month and will discuss further with her my options we are jus trying to narrow everything down.....hasn't been fun to say the least!! Thanks again!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sure it is possible for you to have an inner ear infection at this time of life. Tubes indicate a middel ear infection which is not related to an inner ear infection.

Regarding inner ear infection, there are not a lot of test that can be done.

A hearing evaluation can be done, but one can have an inner ear infectionc causeing only dizzy symptoms without hearing issues. They can go together, but not always. The theory is some form of the herpes virus can attack the inner ear. There really is no blood test to indicate that this is what is actually occuring. You can have a blood test but all that will prove is that you have had, at some point of your life, exposure to herpes.  So what? Most people have.....  

So basically the inner ear infection is a shot gun diagnoses done by ruleing out other possible issues. Yes, inner ear infections can be painless. I have known some people to have an inner ear infection and just notice it by talking on the phone. They just felt that one ear as weaker.... that was it, no other symptoms at all.

I have never heard of a drivers license being taken away. I watched a pilot being treated for an inner ear infection....   I even questioned the ENT about that, and he said "He will be fine...."  Scared me though.

I do not know what you exact problem is, to be honest diagnosing dizzy patients is very difficult, and that is even on a face to face visit....  
Helpful - 0
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